Fabric



Aug. 4, 1942. 2 J. D. HUIZEN@ FABRIC Filed arch 2, 1940 IZB 'Gttorneg Patented Aug. 4, 1942 FABRIC John D. Huizeng, Hawthorne, N. J., assignor to Century Ribbon Mills, Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application March 2, 1940, Serial No. 321,843

6 Claims.

This invention relates to narrow fabrics such as tapes, ribbons, stringers, bindings etc. and to methods of making the same. A

One object of the invention is to provide a woven ribbon, tape or other narrow fabric having a longitudinally extending portion spaced from the side edges of the fabric and constructed and arranged to be readily separated wholly or partially in a longitudinal direction in said longitudinally extending portion, whereby the fabric thus produced can be utilized for a variety of purposes. For example, a fabric of this construction can be provided with one or more slits in said longitudinally extending portion for forming button holes or similar openings, or such fabric can be cut in said longitudinally extending portion at one or both ends of the fabric for providing straps, such as, for example, shoulder straps for womens undergarments, with splayed ends as illustrated for example, in U. S. Letters Patent No 2,035,480, granted March 3l, 1936, on an application led by me. By way of further example of uses for the fabric of the present invention, such fabric as will hereinafter appear can be produced in any suitable width and thereafter divided longitudinally whereby to provide narrow fabrics having finished or selvage edges at both side edges thereof. The present invention also contemplates the provision of fabrics having a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extending portions of the character referred to, whereby to produce strips or webs of fabric having one or more slits or openings provided in each said longitudinally extending portions. In all forms of the invention, however, an important feature and advantage of the invention resides in so constructing the fabric as to loop weft thread portions around the warp threads adjacent to the longitudinally extending portions referred to which, as will hereinafter appear, are empty-dent portions, being devoid of warp threads, whereby to facilitate the partial or complete separation of parts of the fabric at opposite sides at said longitudinally extending portions, the adjacent side edges of the separated portions of the fabric being non-ravelling.

The objects of the invention, and the advantages and features thereof, as well as the manner of practising the same will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawvention, the intermediate longitudinally extending portion of the fabric being, for the purpose of the clarity of illustration, shown exagerated in width;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a greatly enlarged scale of a part of the fabric of Fig. 1, illustrating more or less diagrammatically the weave and construction of the fabric, parts being broken away to permit the illustration on the large scale as illustrated;

Fig. 2A is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the weft thread traverses theV fabric;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the fabric illustrated in Fig. 1, showing a length of such fabric provided with splayed ends for forming a shoulder strap or the like; Fig. 4 is a plan View of a length of fabric similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 but provided with two longitudinally extending empty-dent portions;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the method of weaving the fabric illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a method of producing a fabric provided with more than two empty-dent portions;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the fabric produced by the method illustrated in Fig. 6.. l

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the narrow fabric I0 as here shown is in the form of ribbon or tape of indefinite length as produced on a loom and comprises longitudinally extending portions I2 and I4 of any desired weave, separated by an intermediate longitudinally extending empty-dent portion I6, said last mentioned portion being devoid of warp threads and containing filler or weft thread portions I8 extending transversely of the fabric across said empty-dent portion from one side portion of the fabric to the other. As illustrated in Fig. 1, empty-dent portion I6 is provided with slits 20 closed at both ends thereof, said slits being formed by cutting the weft thread portions I8 along longitudinally extending lines. As illustrated in Fig. 3 however the fabric can be readily provided with splayed end portions lZa and Illa by cutting the weft thread portions I8 between the adjacent side edges of portions I2 and I4 of the fabric.

An important feature of the invention resides in providing the fabric not only with selvage edges 22 and 24 at the opposite side edges of the length of the fabric but also with selvage edges 26 and 23 at the inner side edges of fabric portions I2 and I4, respectively, adjacent emptydent portion I6 thereof. The construction of the fabric for accomplishing this result and the manner of weaving the fabric having such inner selvage edges are illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus as here shown, the weft thread W which is woven with the warp threads in the portions I2 and I4 is not only looped around the selvage warps Illc and Idd at the opposite side edges of the fabric, but are also looped around the warp threads I 4e and I4f, which lie in portions I2' and I4, respectively, adjacent empty-dent portion I6. The looped weft thread portions at the opposite side edges of the fabric are indicated at 30 and 32, respectively, while the looped weft thread portions at the inner edges of the fabric portions I2 and I 4 are indicated at 34 and 35, respectively. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 2a, that the weft thread W has transversely disposed portions which extend for the entire width of the fabric and transversely disposed portions which extend for a part only of the fabric width, and it will be understood that the weft thread as thus arranged is interwoven with the warp threads in parts I2 and I4 in any suitable manner apparent to those skilled in the art of weaving fabrics. It will be noted that the emptydent or warpless portion is very narrow whereby to provide in effect a fabric having a longitudinally extending slit except for the presence in the warpless area of the weft thread portions. By reason of this slit-like portion, when the weft threads therein are cut centrally thereof, the ends of said weft threads lie close to the adj acerit warps.

In the lform of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the fabric IIIA is provided with two longitudinally extending transversely spaced emptydent portions I6a disposed between the laterally spaced Woven portions |211; I2c, and |211, each of which has a selvage edge adjacent the emptydent portion. The fabric I A can be provided with one or more slits in each empty-dent portion IIa thereof, said slits being indicated at a, and being closed at both ends like the slits 2U of fabric IU. The manner of weaving the fabric shown in Fig. 4 is illustrated in Fig. 5 which shows weft thread W not only looped around the selvage warps at the opposite extreme side edges of the fabric, but also having portions thereof looped around the warps which lie adjacent the empty-dent portions Ia, said last mentioned weft portions being indicated at 34a, 36a, 35h, and 35d.- In Fig. 4 the selvage is formed by loopedthread portions of weft W in conjunction with the warps lying adjacent the empty-dent portions as indicated at 26a, 26h, 25d, and 26e, and the selvaged edges at the opposite side edges of the fabric, are indicated at 22a and 24a respectively.

The fabrics woven in accordance with the present invention can be formed into narrower fabrics by completely cutting the fabric longitudinally thereof in the empty-dent portion I6 or in one or both portions Ida. 'I'hus 'for example, the fabric Iil can be divided into two lengths of narrow fabric by cutting the same longitudinally in the empty-dent portion I6 while fabric IGA can be cut into three lengths of narrow fabrics by cutting fabric IBA longitudinally thereof in empty-dent lportions ld. Further with respect to fabric` IDA it will be noted that the latter can be divided into relatively narrow and wide fabric lengths by cutting fabric IUA in only one empty-dent portion Ia.

The present invention not only contemplates the production of relatively narrow fabrics such as fabrics I0 and IllA, but also the production of wide or broad loom fabrics which can be utilized as desired or formed into a plurality of lengths of narrow fabrics. It will be seen therefore that the present invention provides a method of producing a broadloom fabric which can be subsequently formed into a plurality of ribbons, tapes, or other narrow fabrics each having selvages or non-ravelling edges at both side edges thereof. The manner in which this is accomplished will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 7 which illustrates a Wide fabric IBB having a plurality of empty-dent portions Ib disposed between the woven fabric portions |26, I2f, I2g, IZh, and |21'. The weft thread W is woven with the warp threads of each of said fabric portions I2e to I 2i inclusive substantially inthe same manner as indicated in Figs. 2A and 5, having portions thereof looped not only around the warp threads which at the extreme side edges of the fabric but also having portions looped around the Warp which lie adjacent the empty-dent portions |617. It will be understood that in the finished fabric, the transversely disposed weft thread portions will lie close to each other, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and likewise the warp threads in the several portions of the fabricwill also lie close to each other in woven relation with said transversely disposed weft thread portions for providing a woven fabric of the desired thread count. It will be understood that the warp threads may be interwoven with the transversely disposed weft thread portions in any suitable way in the said laterally spaced fabric portion I2 and I4 of fabric I0 or portions I2b, I2C, and I2d of fabric IIIA or of portions I2e to I2z` of fabric Iiib whereby to provide in any of the fabrics a weave of the desired appearance and structure. It will be understood that fabric IB can be provided with slits in the empty-dent portion thereof or that said fabric canvbe divided into a plurality of lengths of narrower fabrics of the same or different Widths. It will be noted also that in any case, according to the present invention the wider fabric can be divided into a plurality of lengths of narrower fabrics by cutting said wider fabrics in the empty-dent portion or portions thereof, each of said narrow fabrics having a selvage edge at both side edges of the fabric whereby the warps which lie adjacent the emptydent portion are prevented Yfrom ravelling. In the drawings the empty-dent portions I6 and ISb are lfor the purpose of illustration shown wider than is necessary, although they can be of any desired width. For ordinary purposes, however, the width of said empty-dent portion is approximately about le of one inch.

While I have shown and described several forms of the invention, it will be understood that the latter may be embodied otherwise than as here shown and that in the illustrated embodiments certain changes in details of construction and in the character of the weave, etc., may be made and will occur to those skilled in the art, particularly in view of the present disclosure. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the forms of the invention herein shown or to any of such forms or to the specific method of Weaving the fabric except as may be requiredby the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isI 1. A fabric having a longitudinally extending warpless portion between the side edges thereof for the full length of the fabric, warp threadsv disposed in spaced groups at opposite sides, respectively, of said warpless portion including selvage warp threads adjacent the side edges of the fabric and selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion at opposite side edges, respectively, of said warpless portion, said fabric consisting of one weft woven with said spaced groups of warp threads, the thread of said weft being laid in courses, reversing about the first and last warp threads of each of said spaced groups of warp threads and successively passing from one selvage group of warp threads to the opposite selvage group of warp threads whereby said weft thread has portions looped around said selvage warp threads at the opposite side edges of the fabric and also around said selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion at both side edges thereof, said warpless portion being also devoid of weft threads except portions of said single weft thread and being of such narrow width that it provides a slit traversed only by short weft thread portions of said single weft thread.

2. A fabric having a longitudinally extending warpless portion between the side edges thereof for the full length of the fabric, warp threads disposed in spaced groups at opposite sides, respectively, of said warpless portion including selvage warp threads adjacent the side edges of the fabric and selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion at opposite side edges, respectively, of said warpless portion, said fabric consisting of one weft woven with said spaced groups of warp threads, the weft thread. having portions extending transversely of the fabric for only a part of the width thereof and portions extending transversely of the fabric for the entire width thereof, said warpless portion being devoid of weft threads except portions of said single weft thread and being of such narrow Width that it provides a slit traversed only by short weft thread portions of said single weft thread, said weft thread being laid in courses reversing about the first and last warp threads of each of said spaced groups and successively passing from one selvage group of warp threads to the opposite selvage group of warp threads whereby said weft thread has portions looped around selvage warp threads at the opposite side edges of the fabric and portions looped around selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion whereby the fabric,v when cut longitudinally for the full length of the fabric in said warpless portion, is divided into a plurality of fabric strips or webs each having loop-ed weft thread portions at both side edges thereof.

3. A fabric having .a longitudinally extending warpless portion between the side edges thereof for the full length of the fabric, warp threads disposed in spaced groups at opposite sides, respectively, of said warpless portion including selvage warp threads adjacent the side edges of the fabric and selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion at opposite side edges, respectively, of said warpless portion, said fabric consisting of one weft woven with said spaced groups of warp threads, the thread of said weft being laid in courses, reversing about the rst and last warp threads of each of said spaced groups of warp threads and successively passing from one selvage group of warp threads to the opposite selvage group of warp threads whereby said weft thread has portions looped around said selvage warp threads at the side edges of the fabric and also around said selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion, said warpless portion being of such narrow width that it provides a slit traversed by short weft thread portions, said fabric being severed longitudinally in said warpless portion along a plurality of longitudinal lines spaced from each other longitudinally of the fabric.

4. A fabric having at least three longitudinally extending portions of partial fabric width containing warp and weft threads, adjacent ones of said fabric portions being spaced from each other transversely of the fabric by a longitudinally extending intermediate portion o-f the fabric devoid of warp threads for substantially the full length of the fabric, said warpless portion being of such narrow width that it provides a slit traversed by short weft thread portions, said slit extending substantially the full length of the fabric, said warpless portions each having weft thread portions therein, said fabric consisting of one weft woven with spaced groups of warp threads disposed in said fabric portions, respectively, the weft thread being laid in courses reversing about the first and last warp threads of each of said spaced groups and successively passing from the selvage warp threads of one of said groups to the opposite selvage warp threads of the adjacent groups whereby the weft thread has portions looped around the selvage warp threads at both side edges of the fabric and portions looped around the selvage warp threads of each of said groups of warp threads adjacent each of said intermediate warpless portions of the fabric at both side edges of each vof said intermediate portions.

5. A fabric having a longitudinally extending warpless portion between the side edges thereof for substantially the full length of the fabric, warp threads disposed in spaced groups at opposite sides, respectively, of said warpless portion, including selvage warp threads adjacent the side edges of the fabric and selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion at both side edges thereof, said fabric consisting of one weft woven with said spaced groups of warp threads, the thread of said weft being laid in courses, reversing about the first and last warp threads of each of said spaced groups of warp threads and successively passing from one selvage group of warp threads to the opposite selvage group of warp threads whereby said weft thread has portions looped varound said selvage warp threads at the side edges of the fabric and also around said selvage warp threads adjacent sai-d warpless portion, said warpless portions having at least one longitudinally extending slit closed at both ends thereof, said slit extending for only a small part of the length of said warpless portion.

6. A fabric strip having a splayed end portion, said fabric strip having a longitudinally extending warpless portion between the side edges thereof for the full length of the fabric strip, warp threads disposed in spaced groups at opposite sides, respectively, of said warpless portion, including selvage warp threads adjacent the side edges of the fabric and selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion, said fabric consisting of one weft woven with said spaced groups of warp threads, the thread of said weft being laid in courses, reversing about the first and last Warp threads of each of said spaced groups of warp threads and successively passing from one selvage group of warp threads to the opposite selvage group of warp threads whereby said weft thread has portions looped around said selvage warp threads at the side edges of the fabric and also around said selvage warp threads adjacent said warpless portion, said warpless portion being of such narrow Width that it provides a slit traversed by short weft thread portions, said splayed end portion being formed by the severing of weft thread portions in said Warpless portion between said looped portions and extending for only a relatively small part 0f the length of said warpless portion.

JOHN D. HUIZENG. 

